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Editorial
See other Editorial Articles

Title: Federal Government Turning Citizens into Criminals
Source: [None]
URL Source: http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news138.htm
Published: Apr 10, 2009
Author: Jim Kouri
Post Date: 2009-04-10 13:31:21 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 1509
Comments: 53

As the price of cigarettes rises -- in the New York City metropolitan area they now cost nearly $10.00 per pack or about $100.00 for a carton of ten packs -- and there are more and more government programs aimed at controlling sale and use, the US and state governments are creating a new organized crime enterprise.

For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives New York office last Thursday arrested two suspects who purchased untaxed cigarettes from undercover ATF agents while also selling the agents counterfeit New York State/City Tax Stamps.

Guang Ming Wang, age 58 and his son, Feishan Wang, age 30, both residents of Queens, NY, were arrested by ATF Agents without incident, meaning these were not criminals given to violence -- at least not yet, according to NYPD officer Edna Aguayo.

Guang Ming Wang arrived at a prearranged "meet" location with $312,000 in cash and over 200,000 counterfeit tax stamps. As the cash and stamps were exchanged for a shipment of 12,000 cigarettes, he was immediately taken into custody. Feishan Wang was arrested at the same time in front of 144-05 29th Road in Queens. Both Wang's have been involved in this particular illicit operation since June 2008, which included 12 undercover deals involving the purchase of untaxed cigarettes and counterfeit tax stamps.

During the nine month investigation, Guang Ming Wang purchased a total of 31,980 cartons of untaxed cigarettes for $846,000 and also sold ATF 103,950 counterfeit NY State/City tax stamps for $4,000. After the undercover sales of cigarettes, both Wang's were observed by agents unloading the contraband at two locations, 144-05 29th Road and 135-06 62nd Ave. in Queens. Federal search warrants were executed at both locations after the arrests.

The cartons sold to Wang contained a total of 319,800 individual cigarette packs, which at a price of $10 per pack had a retail street value of more than $3.1 million dollars in New York City. The counterfeit New York tax stamps are worth $4.25 each, bringing their street value to over $440,000. It is estimated that the defendants conspired to deprive New York State and City of at least $1.8 million dollars in tax revenue through their actions.

Ironically, while the ATF were arresting the Wangs, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor with a strong bipartisan majority for the second time since last July to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (HR 1256).

Many lawmakers and groups have long been working together to urge the passage of this bill that would provide the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory control over tobacco products.

"So now we have two federal agencies involved in cigarette control. What's next? SWAT teams tasked with going after 'smuggled' cartons of cigarettes? The criminal code being revised to include citizens who buy cheap cigarettes from pushers?" quips a New York City detective.

"All we are doing is collecting more tax revenue and creating a new class of criminal activity," he added.

"What we are witnessing is a slippery slope. What's next? Replicating [New York City's] Mayor Bloomberg's attack on trans-fats? Children denied cookies during cookie time in kindergarten?

Slowly, the government is sticking their noses in citizens' business, They’re trying to micro-manage our lives," notes Mike Baker, a conservative political strategist.

"The liberals love telling Americans they don't want the government in their bedrooms, but apparently every other room in the house is up for grabs," Baker quipped.

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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 23.

#2. To: christine (#0) (Edited)

"So now we have two federal agencies involved in cigarette control. What's next? SWAT teams tasked with going after 'smuggled' cartons of cigarettes? The criminal code being revised to include citizens who buy cheap cigarettes from pushers?" quips a New York City detective.

It's a well established but little known fact that commercially grown tobacco is contaminated with radiation. The major source of this radiation is phosphate fertilizer.1 The big tobacco companies all use chemical phosphate fertilizer, which is high in radioactive metals, year after year on the same soil. These metals build up in the soil, attach themselves to the resinous tobacco leaf and ride tobacco trichomes in tobacco smoke, gathering in small "hot spots" in the small-air passageways of the lungs.2 Tobacco is especially effective at absorbing radioactive elements from phosphate fertilizers, and also from naturally occurring radiation in the soil, air, and water.3

Why doesn't .gov make it a criminal act for growers to put radioactive fertilizer into/on tobacco products, a contributing factor of cancer, if they're so concerned about the ill-effects of smoking on smokers. That is the reason for the taxes, after all, "the costs to society are so great" because of smokers....

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   13:43:03 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: litus (#2)

Why doesn't .gov make it a criminal act for growers to put radioactive fertilizer into/on tobacco products, a contributing factor of cancer, if they're so concerned about the ill-effects of smoking on smokers. That is the reason for the taxes, after all, "the costs to society are so great" because of smokers....

.gov doesn't really give a $#it about smokers OR non smokers. Just wants to control them and take all the money they can get from them.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   16:51:00 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: James Deffenbach (#7)

That's an understatement!

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   18:25:53 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: litus (#9)

Hey bud. How's it goin'?

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   18:27:03 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: James Deffenbach (#10)

Good. Been busy reading up on stuff the past couple of days. My brain is nearing overload.

How's your week been?

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   18:30:27 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: litus (#11)

My week has been somewhat mixed I suppose. Been dealing with a bad case of gout. Otherwise things are going pretty well I suppose.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   18:36:15 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: James Deffenbach (#12)

Sorry to hear that. I once had a friend with that problem. He told me about the pain he'd have a times, besides some of the treatment, diet, and being laid up when it got real bad sometimes.

It's not fun getting old(er).

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   18:42:06 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: litus (#13)

No. There is a saying, you have probably heard it--"Getting old is not for sissies." As for the pain, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   18:45:35 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: James Deffenbach (#14)

"Getting old is not for sissies." As for the pain, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

No, it isn't. I'm sorry about your pain. Does weather affect it at all? Hopefully, the pain will pass soon (or is it always there?). I think my friend's would come and go, but we're talking years ago now, so my memory's not clear on specifics.

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   18:55:57 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: litus (#15)

I'm sorry about your pain.

Thank you.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   19:01:09 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: James Deffenbach (#17)

Pain is a horrible thing. For various discomforts, I am encouraged by thinking, "This too shall pass."

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   19:06:28 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: litus (#19)

Pain is a horrible thing. For various discomforts, I am encouraged by thinking, "This too shall pass."

I feel the same way.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   20:46:52 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: James Deffenbach (#21)

It's a pretty good pick me up in a pinch.

litus  posted on  2009-04-10   20:54:06 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: litus (#22)

Yeah, I try to remember all the good days I have had and not dwell on the bad ones full of pain. Praying helps too.

James Deffenbach  posted on  2009-04-10   20:57:41 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


Replies to Comment # 23.

#24. To: James Deffenbach (#23)

I agree. Faith is sometimes all one can hold onto to get through some things sometimes, imho.

litus  posted on  2009-04-10 21:00:41 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


End Trace Mode for Comment # 23.

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